Pinal County AZ Archives History - Businesses .....Pioneer Mining District 1881
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/az/azfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 17, 2007, 4:42 pm

PIONEER DISTRICT, PINAL COUNTY.

  The largest and most important portion of this noted district lies in Pinal
County, another portion overlapping into Gila and Mar-copa Counties. Upon the
discovery of the renowned Silver King mine in 1875, a large number of
prospectors entered this section, and many locations were made. Since then
prospecting has been vigorously prosecuted, resulting in the discovery of many
rich ledges of gold and silver ore. This district also contains ledges of rich
copper ore, but as yet they have not been developed to any great extent; in the
near future, however, it will no doubt be producing a large amount of copper as
well as gold and silver. The mineral belt is about five miles wide, running the
whole length of the district, a distance of about ten miles. On the mountains
are found a good supply of timber for mining purposes, and Queen Creek and other
small streams furnish an abundant supply of water for milling purposes. The
climate like that of other mountain regions in Arizona is unsurpassed.

  THE SILVER KING.—This celebrated mine, discovered in 1875, is situated in a
little valley on the southwestern slope of the Pinal Mountains. The discovery
was made from croppings on the apex of a small hill, which had been left by the
elements that denuded and carried off the sedimentary and basaltic rocks that at
some previous time covered it and the valley more than a .thousand feet in
depth, as shown by the sheer precipice to the south. The formation incasing the
vein is granite. The mine was first worked by an open cut on the top of the
hill, the vein being sixty feet wide and of wonderful richness. It has produced
some of the richest specimens of ore on record. Masses have been found of 500
lbs. weight which gave 75 per cent, of silver. Assays of considerable quantities
have given the contents at 820,000 per ton. The mine paid its way from the
start, high grade ores being selected and sent at great expense to San Francisco
for reduction. Up to January, 1880, the mine had paid in dividends $710,000.
From May 5th, 1877, to December 31st, 1879, the product was 8819,141.58. The
dividends for the same period were $450,000. In the upper levels of the mine the
ore was free milling; but as the mine attains greater depth the ore becomes
rebellious, and that from the lower levels has now to be worked by the
lixivia-tion process. The ore is no >v of great variety—native silver, silver
copper glance, antimonious fahlore, green, brown, and black zincblende, peacock
copper ore, galena, copper and iron pyrites. The gangue is heavy spar quartz and
porphyry. The lowest level is now, January, 1881, 408 feet. The vein here has
been worked from the hanging wall 36 feet in width, and it is said the foot wall
has not been reached. On the 350-foot level the vein is 56 feet wide. It is said
that no level has yet been exhausted. The main shaft is now down over 700 feet.
In January, 1881, the superintendent reports 2,000 tons of ore on the dump,
which will work $200 per ton.

  The receipts for the year ending December 31st, 1880, were $586,886.68;
expenses during the same period, $352,234.18; dividends, $75,000; cash on hand,
December 31st, 1880, $159,652.50.

  THE WINDSOR MINING Co. own several locations, among which are the Last Chance,
Copper Top, and Mountain View. These properties have all been developed to a
considerable extent, and are yielding a large quantity of rich ore. The company
have a five-stamp mill and furnace at Pinal City for the reduction of their
ores, the yield from which adds materially to the stream of bullion which is now
flowing from this district. L. Elmore is Superintendent.

  THE WIDE AWAKE MINING CO. own the Gem, a gold mine which has a four-foot ledge
carrying high-grade ore. This company have a ten-stamp mill on Queen Creek, near
their tunnel. All the machinery is new, of the latest improved pattern, and will
work about 18 tons of rock per day. It is said the ore will average about $45
per ton, and that it costs about $6 per ton for mining and milling. A. Showers
is Superintendent.

  THE ALICE BELL Mine, situated about two miles from Silver King, is developed
by a shaft over 100 feet in depth, from which several cross-cuts have been run.
Ore of a veiy high grade has been found, resembling in many respects that of the
Silver King. Good hoisting works have been erected, and the mine is being
energetically worked.

  THE EASTLAND MINING CO. own the Tilden Mine, which adjoins the Silver King on
the east. They have erected extensive hoisting works and are sinking a
two-compartment shaft, which is now over 100 feet in depth, and progressing at a
rate of about four feet a day. The engine is forty-horse power.

  The Pike mine is situated about half a mile north of the Silver King. It is
developed to a considerable extent, and is yielding high grade ore. Equal in
merit as regards ores or location to the last mentioned mines, are the Lewis
Consolidated, Surpriser, Northern King, Silver King South, Bilk, and Mowry
mines, all of which are being energetically developed. In addition to the above
are the Belcher, Eureka, Webfoot, Union East, Union West, Telegraph, Cedar Tree,
James A. Garfield, Silver Queen, Athens, News Letter, Helpmate, Redeemer,
London, Orphan Boy, Black Diamond, Emma, Silver Duke, Beebe, Columbia, Silver
Belle, Martinez, Santa Maria, Pinal Chief, Blue Bird, Victoria, New Year, and
others, which have been more or less developed, and from which good ore has been
extracted. At Happy Camp, about three miles from Pinal City, is the Uncle Bill,
Augustin, Leon, Lancing, Rockland, Hard Scrabble, etc., which are now being
worked and yielding good ore.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

ARIZONA BUSINESS DIRECTORY AND GAZETTEER;
CONTAINING THE
Names and Post-Office Addresses of all Merchants, Manufacturers and Professional
Men in the Territory of Arizona;

TERRITORIAL, COUNTY, CITY AND TOWN OFFICERS.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT MINING DISTRICTS AND THE NAMES OF MINING
SUPERINTENDENTS.

ALSO, A GAZETTEER OF THE COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS,
Giving a full exhibit of their Mineral, Agricultural and Manufacturing Resources.

WITH AN APPENDIX,

CONTAINING THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF WHOLESALE MERCHANTS AND MANUFACTURERS IN
THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

W. C. DISTURNELL,
COMPILER AND PUBLISHER,
534 California Street, San Francisco, Cal.
BACON & COMPANY, PRINTERS.
l88l.


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881,
By W. C. DISTURNELL,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/pinal/directories/business/1881/pioneerm708gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/azfiles/

File size: 7.1 Kb